Following a Wife's Direction
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maṉaiyāḷai yañcu maṟumai yilāḷaṉ / viṉaiyāṇmai vīṟeyta liṉṟu.
“No glory crowns e'en manly actions wrought / By him who dreads his wife, nor gives the other world a thought.”
“Behold the salvation-less wretch that trembleth before his wife: his talents will never be held in any esteem.”
The enterprise of a person lacking virtue who lives in fear of his wife can never achieve greatness.
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Parimelazhagar’s commentary
13th century · public domainParimelazhagar’s own words come first, unaltered. The plain reading follows below.
மனையாளை அஞ்சும் மறுமை இலாளன்= தன்மனையாளை அஞ்சி ஒழுகுகின்ற மறுமைப் பயன் இல்லாதானுக்கு; வினை ஆண்மை வீறு எய்தல் இன்று= வினையை ஆளுந்தன்மை உண்டாய வழியும், நல்லோராற் கொண்டாடப்படாது.
Source: Tamil Wikisource
The enterprise and capability of a person who lives in fear of his wife can never achieve glorious success or worldly renown.